Anyone who has landed or taken off in Congonhas, in São Paulo, knows that in addition to the short runway, the proximity of buildings and houses is for those with a strong heart.
The same happens at Santos Dumont airport, in Rio (pictured above). There the problem is another: the proximity to the sea. You have to trust the skill of the pilots not to suffer too much.
But believe it or not… there are even scarier airports around the world.
If you are one of those people who sweats cold when the plane starts to run on the runway or feels sick when you hear the captain lower the landing gear in preparation for landing, pay close attention when choosing the destination of your next vacation. And make sure none of these airports are used…
1. Toncontín International Airport
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its very short runways and proximity to the region’s mountains, Tegucigalpa airport has already been the scene of a tragedy. In 2008, an Airbus 320 failed to stop at the end of the runway and crashed into a street. Five people died. You can feel the danger in the video below…
2. Paro Airport
Bhutan
To get an idea of how difficult it is to land a plane at this airport in Bhutan, landings can only happen during the day and only eight (yes, I said eight) pilots in the world are authorized to land there. Located in a valley, it is very close to houses. Due to the mountains, pilots need to rely on known points to position the plane, as the runway only “appears” at the last minute. To complete, the airport does not have radar.
3. Matekane Air Stip
Lesotho
I don’t even know if it can be called an airport. The Matekane Air Strip in Lesotho is more like an airstrip than anything else. Located at the top of a mountain range, it is basically used for flights with donations to needy places. With the shortest runway in the world (only 400 m), it ends in a cliff over 600 m high.
4. Tenzing-Hillary Airport
lukla, nepal
Only those who want to climb Everest can face an airport like these. To land on it, the pilot first needs to pass through a narrow route between the Himalayas and, as soon as it touches the ground, start the process to stop the aircraft and escape the rock wall at the end of the runway. And don’t think that take-offs are any less “exciting”…
5. Juancho Yrausquin Airport
Saba, Caribbean
To get to this Caribbean paradise, you have to go through hell first. Well, it’s not that much, but Saba airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, about 400 m long, with water at the beginning or end of it (and on the side too, as if that weren’t enough). !). To complete, the landing there is not the easiest, as the pilots need to go towards a cliff before turning suddenly left to find the landing strip.
6. Courchevel Altiport
Courchevel, France
More like a ski slope than an airstrip, the airport at the French ski resort of Courchevel is for thrill-seekers. In addition to being surrounded by mountains and covered with snow most of the year, the runway is short and pilots need a special certification to land in Courchevel. Don’t be alarmed by the difference in height on the runway’s asphalt: it is deliberate and helps pilots lose speed when landing and gain speed when taking off. Cold in the belly is little!
7. Barra Airport
Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Don’t be alarmed if you go to this town in Scotland and, when you land, you don’t see any asphalt runways. Despite being called an airport, the planes here land on the beach sand. There are three “runways” that for a good part of the day are underwater due to the tides. For the unsuspecting on duty, when in Barra be careful not to walk on the beach and run into a landing plane!